Saturday, 19 July 2014

Yep at 1.15PM today I am getting married to my gorgeous fiance so I figured I would write a post ahead of today to share with you all.

I just want to say a huge thankyou to everyone who has helped us make this day acheivable and kept us calm when we have needed it - and trust me with just over three months to plan a wedding we have needed it!

We are so happy to have all our loved ones wether it be family or friends together,to celebrate this amazing milestone in our lives together.

If you had asked me last year if I'd be sat at my mom's house getting ready to get married I would have laughed at you.

As a couple we have come a very long way and grown together,and couldn't be prouder of who we have become as a couple.

And I am going to be so proud to be Gareth's Wife and a part of his Family and him part of Mine.

Sadly a few people we always invisaged would be at our wedding will not be there with us celebrating,and that's so sad but we know that all the people who love and care for us will be there sharing our first day off married life together and those who aren't attending will be sorely missed.

Then there are people who sadly never would be able to attend because they are no longer with us.

Through out the day we will be remembering our Grandparents & Friends that are watching the day from over us,knowing they would have been so proud.

Thankyou to the readers of my blog who have sent us well wishes and lots of help and suggestions with wedding plans - I can't thank you all enough...

Well as I press "Publish" on this post I am sure I am running round like a headless chicken getting my hair and makeup done..

And today I am sharing a interview with my transplant friend Alexandra.

I met alexandra during my third transplant as she was in the bed opposite me recovering from hers while I was waiting for mine!

So here is my interview with the lovely Alex.

What transplant have you had?

I had a liver transplant.

What did you need a transplant for?

I needed it because I have a rare type of reoccurring liver disease called Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. It's when your body attacks your liver. The bile ducts start to close up and bile gets stuck in them this causes pools of infection. The trapped bile starts to eat away at the liver and cause scarring/fibrosis.

What where your first thoughts when you was told you needed a transplant?

I was completely shocked I only got diagnosed with PSC a few months before and had been told It would be years before I would need a transplant.

Where you ever a donor,or ever wanted to be a donor?

Yes I was already a donor as my dad was. He was killed in a car accident when I was 15 and after this I decided to sign up.

Do you think if you are happy to recieve an organ you should be willing to donate one?

I do agree that if you are willing to receive then you should be willing to give. I think it's a very fair way of looking at organ donation. I do believe there may be exception to the rule.

Since transplant what is your biggest achievement or that one moment that you never thought you would reach without the gift of a donor organ?

I think about my donor everyday and his family, especially when I'm doing something that I feel very thankful for. For example when I got married earlier this year he was the reason I was able to do that and I will never forget that.

So this just shows,

That being a donor?

You don't always know you will need one yourself - which happened to me too.

Yesterday I uploaded a interview with Stacie - Who is waiting for a heart & double lung transplant which you can read here.

But today I Will be uploading an interview with one of my family members.

Being my cousin's girlfriend and my god daughters mom,at the time of my illness she was there for it all.

I was very interested to discover not only is she a donor - but so are her children.

What made you become a donor?

I have always thought i wanted to be a donor like I've always given blood and i think once i pass i don't need my organs and someone else could, also i would always accept an organ if i needed one so would feel selfish for not giving up mine if someone needed one.

What made you decide to put your children on the organ donor register?

This was a tough one as its hard to think about your children passing before you and i did think i really wouldn't want them to be cut open if they did but i then thought if i was in that situation id do anything to receive a donor for them so if anything positive could come from a terrible situation then it would be worth it.

Do you think if you or your child ever got sick and needed a transplant and they received one,You should be willing to donate your/their organs if they were needed for another person/child?

Yes i defiantly agree if your willing to receive you should be willing to give the gift of life back to someone else by donating.

Have you ever had second thoughts about being a donor ?

Personally i have never had a second thought from seeing how it has changed your life and we're so lucky to still have you and seeing how far you've come its an easy answer for me.

What about for your children?

My children i do sometimes think about then i just think how id feel put in the situation of a parent waiting for a donor for their child and my mind is made up.

What would it mean to you if you could save someones life through the gift of transplant?

It would mean the world to me i may not be a hero whilst I'm here but to save someones life and be a hero once i passed that's a pretty amazing feeling.

I know that being a donor can be controversial enough but people can get very vocal about their opinions about children been donors.

What do you think?

Would you allow your children to be donors?

Just like yesterday anyone who wants to get involved please contact me at :

Stacie has also been shortlisted for a cosmo blogger award so go vote.

So heres stacies story...

What transplant do you need?

So I need a Heart and Double Lung Transplant

How long have you been waiting on the transplant list?As of today I have been waiting 2 years 2 and Half months or 808 days lol

Would you be willing to donate an organ if you could since you are happy to accept an organ?

I am more than willing to donate more organs should anything happen to me. I personally don't believe that should be allowed to receive an organ if you aren't willing to donate. Also I know that a few of my organs will go to research should I die or if I actually do get my transplant because quite a few of my organs can't be used due to the medication I take but it can be useful to fine out more about my condition so I would still be giving back in a way. I also have a massive phobia about not actually being dead and being buried alive so if they took out my organs at least I would definitely be dead lol.

What is it like being on the Transplant List?

It is very difficult being on the transplant list I think it's especially difficult at the beginning because you jump at ever sound your phone makes or if your anything like me I just stared at my phone while I was going to sleep willing it to ring. I think you kind of get used to it though after a while and you're kind of lulled into a false sense of security but then for people like me I've had a few false alarms now and after each one it's kind of like starting over again jumping at every phone call, it constantly being on your mind. The there's people like me who have had to wait a very long time I've kind of stopped believing it's going to happen just so I won't be massively disappointed if it doesn't happen. It's a balancing act trying to keep yourself sane while you wait :)

What one thing would you say to any one who is thinking of becoming a donor?

I think I would say there is no greater gift you can give someone. Out of something tragic and awful, something amazing can happen. People try their whole lives to make their life mean something, by simply signing up you can do something Tremendous!

Have you got one peice of advice for other people waiting on the transplant list right now?

Umm I think for anyone waiting I would say talk to people don't bottle it up because that is not good for your health and can actually make it worse people want to help and want to listen so let them. And keep yourself busy not so you're physically exhausting yourself but keeping active will keep your mind busy and might even make you feel a bit better :)

I hope that you all enjoyed this little interview with Stacie,

be sure to go check out her blog to keep up with her journey - send her lots of hugs and well wishes too :)